In Pictures: Faces of NATO

For seven decades the members of NATO have worked hand in hand to prevent conflict, preserve peace and protect our people.

Proving that together we are stronger; these are the faces of the men and women who, through their courage and compassion, have created a community.

From watching over the waves to securing our skies, they are part of an alliance of 29 nations that today keeps a billion people safe.

On land these allies serve in the sand and snow, standing shoulder to shoulder on military operations and exercises around the world.

These portraits offer a brief glimpse behind the scenes. They invite you to look beyond the uniform and the camouflaged faces to see the common values that have preserved our freedom for 7 decades.

United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Flt lt Rollestion-Smith is a Royal Air Force helicopter pilot deployed on Op TORAL in Afghanistan. The TORAL Aviation Detachment, based in Kabul enables British and NATO troops to travel safely around the Afghan capital by air as the coalition continues to work towards a safe and secure Afghanistan.

Albania 🇦🇱

Albanian soldier, Ertisa Ç​erri, 2nd Infantry Battalion of Land Force Command. Albania became an official NATO member on the 1st April 2009.

Belgium 🇧🇪

A young Belgian sailor is inspected right before standing guard at the royal palace.

Bulgaria🇧🇬

A Bulgarian soldier participating in the international competition, Commando Challenge, in memory of the 13 Bulgarian service members fallen in Iraq during 2003–2005.

Canada🇨🇦

Canada is a founding member of NATO and was one of the first countries to propose the idea of a transatlantic defensive alliance.

Croatia 🇭🇷

A Croatian soldier participating in the formal send-off ceremony for the 5th HRVCON to NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in Poland held at the Barracks “Bilogora” in Bjelovar.

Czech Republic🇨🇿

A member of BAF Guard Company in Bagram, Afghanistan giving commands to one of his soldiers.

Denmark 🇩🇰

Corporal Joseph Nasir Yalda, 29 years old, was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 with ISAF 12 and believes that being in the Army, but particularly being deployed abroad, has made him the man he is today.

Estonia 🇪🇪

This Estonian soldier was part of Ex Hunt, a tri-nation exercise held in Estonia between the British (The Kings Royal Hussars), The French Foreign Legion and The Estonian Defence League (Estonian Reservists).

France 🇫🇷

A portrait of the 1st class Marius, engineer combat diver on exercise Trident Juncture, taken in Alvdal, Norway, 2018.

Germany 🇩🇪

Oberfeldarzt Dr Naziha H. is responsible for medical care at the German contingent training support in Erbil, Iraq.

Greece 🇬🇷

Greece has been a member of NATO since 1952 and is located in a strategically important region, close to South-Eastern Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and North Africa.

Hungary 🇭🇺

Sergeant István Oberna, a squad leader, briefs his soldiers ahead of a patrol in Kosovo, April 2016.

Iceland 🇮🇸

Gen. Scott Miller, Resolute Support Commander, gives a farewell hug to his Icelandic colleague Alfrun Baldursdottir, political advisor to the Senior Civilian Representative.

Italy 🇮🇹

A soldier from the Italian Air Force stands in front of a F35 hangar, belonging to the 32nd Wing of the Air Task Force in Iceland (Air Policing). Italy was a founding member of NATO.

Latvia🇱🇻

Defence is by no means a “Boys’ Club” in Latvia, more than 15 per cent of military service members are women, serving Latvia and NATO in all roles and capacities.

Lithuania 🇱🇹

Continuous Mandatory Initial Military Service conscripts at a decommissioning ceremony. A conscript farewells service at the Honour Guard Company of Gediminas Headquarters Battalion.

Luxembourg 🇱🇺

Soldier Chief Jordy Lima, a Luxembourg Army Medic, stands by during demolition training as part of Exercise Trident Juncture 2018 in Rena, Norway.

Montenegro 🇲🇪

A Montenegrin soldier in a NATO Enforced Presence Battle Group, Latvia. Montenegro joined NATO in June 2017, after gaining its independence in June 2006.

Netherlands 🇳🇱

Gele Rijders of Dutch Army, the Hague, September 2018. In April 1949, Foreign Minister Dirk Stikker signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington D.C. on behalf of the Netherlands, making them one of the founding members.

Norway 🇳🇴

Sergeant Maren Hetland during NATO Exercise Trident Juncture near camp Rena.

Poland 🇵🇱

A Combat Medic during training in Military Medical Center of Excellence in- Łódź, Poland.

Portugal 🇵🇹

Portuguese Navy Diver deployed in the Baltic and North Sea with Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1.

Romania 🇷🇴

Second Lieutenant Ariadna-Ecaterina Guta, 2019 Valedictorian of “Nicolae Bălcescu” Land Forces Academy from Sibiu, during graduation ceremony.

Slovakia 🇸🇰

A Slovak soldier during military training on platoon level. He is a sniper from the 13th mechanized battalion Levice. The photo was taken in the training area Devičany near town Levice in March 2019.

Slovenia 🇸🇮

Member of the 10th Infantry Regiment of the Slovenian Armed Forces during a March of the Red Berets.

Spain 🇪🇸

Soldier Nuria García Martín, maintains the position of “present weapons” looking to infinity, while the National Flag takes its place in formation.

Turkey 🇹🇷

Turkish lieutenant Gulru Gizem Atabey, the commander of the maintenance unit and responsible for the maintenance of the military vehicles used in operation.

United States 🇺🇸

Senior Airman Brianne Davis, assigned to the 2nd Security Forces Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, poses for a portrait in front a B-2 Spirit, at Royal Air Force Fairford, England.

The UK wishes to thank all the allies who contributed images of men and women who serve; together we tell their stories.